CaminoChaos
Bench
just announced by Grant Napier on 1140
There MAY be a lockout
- Thread starter CaminoChaos
- Start date
CaminoChaos
Bench
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2081405
doesn't look good.
Edited by VF21 to add story for ease of commenting:
NBA officials told to prepare for lockout
by Chad Ford, ESPN
Deputy commissioner Russ Granik told members of the NBA's competition committee Monday to prepare for a lockout, four league sources, including two NBA general managers, have told ESPN.com.
League spokesman Tim Frank was more circumspect when confirming Granik's remarks, saying Granik told the committee "to prepare in case of a lockout."
Sources, some at the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, are not optimistic that the league and the players' union can reach agreement on a new collective-bargaining agreement before the current contract expires June 30.
The same sources say, however, that any work stoppage will not be a long one.
"There's going to be a lockout," an NBA executive told Ford. "I don't think there's any way we get a deal done any time soon. We're not seeing eye to eye right now. The truth is that players don't really believe a lockout will hurt them in the summer. It won't be until there's a threat of losing that first paycheck that they'll get serious about negotiating again."
While this could be no more than posturing by the NBA, sources on the players' side are quietly conceding the same thing.
"I think they'll lock us out," a source with the NBA Players' Association said. "I think David [Stern] has always wanted to lock us out. I think it's a mistake. They act like they don't have anything to lose, but I think they do. The summer league, free agency, NBA players' playing in the qualifying tournament for the World Championships. The bottom line is that the players want to play. They [the players] offered to extend the current deal until a new one could be put into place. They [the owners] want this, and there's nothing we can do to stop them."
A number of issues currently separate the sides. The biggest is the owners' insistence that guaranteed contracts be considerably shortened. Currently, players can sign for a maximum of six or seven years, depending upon whether the player is signing with a new team (six years) or his current team (seven years). The owners have been trying to get that rolled back to five years.
Three other issues have become sticking points for the players: 1) the owners' proposal to reduce the amount of annual raises in a contract; 2) a "super luxury tax" that would more harshly penalize teams that spend more than a certain predetermined threshold; and 3) the proposed minimum age requirement of 20 years old.
Despite the resignation that a lockout appears inevitable, sources also have expressed optimism that any work stoppage would not be protracted or actually threaten the 2005-06 season. "I think both sides will take the month of July off," a prominent agent said. "I think we'll head back to the table in August and have something hammered [out] by September. The NBA has no interest in losing revenue and fan support by canceling games. The players have no interest in losing their paychecks. The stakes just aren't high enough right now. But they will be in the fall."
doesn't look good.
Edited by VF21 to add story for ease of commenting:
NBA officials told to prepare for lockout
by Chad Ford, ESPN
Deputy commissioner Russ Granik told members of the NBA's competition committee Monday to prepare for a lockout, four league sources, including two NBA general managers, have told ESPN.com.
League spokesman Tim Frank was more circumspect when confirming Granik's remarks, saying Granik told the committee "to prepare in case of a lockout."
Sources, some at the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, are not optimistic that the league and the players' union can reach agreement on a new collective-bargaining agreement before the current contract expires June 30.
The same sources say, however, that any work stoppage will not be a long one.
"There's going to be a lockout," an NBA executive told Ford. "I don't think there's any way we get a deal done any time soon. We're not seeing eye to eye right now. The truth is that players don't really believe a lockout will hurt them in the summer. It won't be until there's a threat of losing that first paycheck that they'll get serious about negotiating again."
While this could be no more than posturing by the NBA, sources on the players' side are quietly conceding the same thing.
"I think they'll lock us out," a source with the NBA Players' Association said. "I think David [Stern] has always wanted to lock us out. I think it's a mistake. They act like they don't have anything to lose, but I think they do. The summer league, free agency, NBA players' playing in the qualifying tournament for the World Championships. The bottom line is that the players want to play. They [the players] offered to extend the current deal until a new one could be put into place. They [the owners] want this, and there's nothing we can do to stop them."
A number of issues currently separate the sides. The biggest is the owners' insistence that guaranteed contracts be considerably shortened. Currently, players can sign for a maximum of six or seven years, depending upon whether the player is signing with a new team (six years) or his current team (seven years). The owners have been trying to get that rolled back to five years.
Three other issues have become sticking points for the players: 1) the owners' proposal to reduce the amount of annual raises in a contract; 2) a "super luxury tax" that would more harshly penalize teams that spend more than a certain predetermined threshold; and 3) the proposed minimum age requirement of 20 years old.
Despite the resignation that a lockout appears inevitable, sources also have expressed optimism that any work stoppage would not be protracted or actually threaten the 2005-06 season. "I think both sides will take the month of July off," a prominent agent said. "I think we'll head back to the table in August and have something hammered [out] by September. The NBA has no interest in losing revenue and fan support by canceling games. The players have no interest in losing their paychecks. The stakes just aren't high enough right now. But they will be in the fall."
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loopymitch
All-Star
i hope it was just his opinion. i couldn't stand it if it really happened. TDOS is long enough already and they never did start the hockey season. let's all pray this doesn't happen.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
How about the fans STRIKE BACK THIS TIME!!!
Somebody should get a petition going with the intention that fans will boycot the first game of the season (for whatever their home team is) if the season is delayed or a lockout happens. Probably would'nt be able to convince every fan to go through with it but still a large number would effect this situation.
Show the NBA and its players that without the fans they have no rediculously large paychecks!
Somebody should get a petition going with the intention that fans will boycot the first game of the season (for whatever their home team is) if the season is delayed or a lockout happens. Probably would'nt be able to convince every fan to go through with it but still a large number would effect this situation.
Show the NBA and its players that without the fans they have no rediculously large paychecks!
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
BigWaxer said:
David Stern said during an interview on Rome is Burning a few weeks ago that if a lockout is announced games will be missed. He said that if players think that if an agreement is not reached and they can just wait to get things resolved before the season starts they are wrong. He said that the NBA has to many obligations to keep to advertisers, etc. to announce a lockout and have there be no consequence. Once a lockout is announced all the big money deals the NBA have get messed up.
Bibby_Is_Clutch
Starter
Lockout or not I dont mind to much. Im going to miss the basketball but if the Kings can play awsome ball for the shortened season without injuries then that could do well for us in getting back on track.
PixelPusher
Starter
probably won't affect the next season as far as missing any games, but a summer lockout means no summer trades (which means the Kings won't be able to make any significant roster changes)
T
thesanityannex
Guest
i poop on lockouts
Bibby_Is_Clutch said:
If there's a lockout, there's no personnel transactions as PixelP mentioned, AND there's no practice, etc.
The Kings would be much more likely to end up playing abysmal ball if they haven't had the chance to reform themselves into something resembling a cohesive unit.
You do NOT want a lockout. It doesn't help ANYONE.
As far as Grant's comments go, it's June 10. There's a lot that can take place between now and midnight, June 30. The teams don't want a lockout, the players don't want a lockout and David Stern most definitely doesn't want a lockout... especially after watching what's happened with the NHL.
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Bibby_Is_Clutch
Starter
VF21 said:
In that case I hope there isnt a lockout but as it looks now and from what Stern said today it doesnt look good.
S
sanchosforhire
Guest
All i have heard is that there is no way the NBA will put next season in danger because look what kind of damage has been done to the NHL. If they end up canceling games im so done with the NBA. I think a lot of fans will be done with basketball. I didnt think it was possible for me to lose total interest in any sport until baseball last went on strike. I can now count on one hand how many times ive been to a game since. I use to be a friggin baseball nut. Cmon basketball, put next season in danger. I dare you.
CaminoChaos said:
A couple of reassuring comments:
1. It's Chad Ford. He's not exactly the Woodward and Bernstein of sports reporting.
2. What is it with this need for secrecy on the identity of people speculating about whether or not there will be a lockout? This isn't national security, for God's sake. Look at what is actually be attributed to anonymous sources and it's pretty banal stuff.
My favorite part of the whole article is in the fifth paragraph, when Ford speaks of himself - the writer - in the third person: "an NBA executive told Ford."
...
I'm shocked.
...
...
I didn't think any NBA executives would actually talk to Chad Ford.
C Diddy
Starter
Why can't athletes and owners take a hint from the most successful and profitable sports league in the world, the NFL, and adopt their systems along the lines of the NFL's. This lockout stuff seems to threaten every sport except the NFL every 4 years. No one goes to baseball games anymore except for the largest of market teams and hockey isn't even in session. Get your act together and come to an agreement. Guaranteed contracts are bad for professional sports as a whole. Give a little bit up, go with the 4/5 guarateed contract proposal with the fatter salary cap and higher tax threshold and thank your lucky stars you won't hanging out with unemployed Hockey players in Canada come this fall.
BibityBobtyBoom
Bench
Chad Ford just says his stuff to get a story, just wanted to say that. everyone puts him down:magazines and websites. Isn't he the one who told us doug christie would be traded for ray allen or that peja was going to indiana for artest. You can't trust him, he just wants a story. And i heard on espn that if a lock out does happen, it will only be during the summer, and should be solved before the season starts.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Other than the rampant greed and stupidity of all involved, this could be particularly devastating for us -- we NEED this offseason, and the timing could not be worse for yet another pro sports stupid pissing match.
Bibby_Is_Clutch
Starter
piksi said:very funny - that is a good one
What are the realistic chances of that ?
Well its the obvious key to success for us so I thought it was a crucial part of the Championship.
chelle
Starter
quick dog said:Will someone please tell me why a group of less than 400 extremely wealthy professional athletes have a union and a collective-bargaining agreement?
This is the essence of absurdity.
Agreed. It is very ridiculous. However, this time I have to blame the owners. If I am not mistaken, the players offered to extend the current agreement but the owners turned it down.
loopymitch
All-Star
VF21 said:
he has 20 days to make all the phone calls he can, put deals in place and then 2 to make them happen if this travesty does occur. He can do it, they did it in Philly.
On a postitive note, if we couldn't practice then we wouldn't get hurt, oh wait it's the Kings, they'd probably break arms trying to open jars at home. Oh well I tried. we wouldn't be the only team that couldn't practice though so we'd all be in the same boat. Probably make for an ugly season but ugly is better than none (and so's shorter)
KingsFan54
Bench
If there is a lock out, then I'm pretty much done with basketball. These spoiled, rich kids and the owners need to get together and work this out. I'm just so sick and tired of young, very young in some cases boys making more money in one year than I'll make in a life time crying over how long the contract is. Let them get a real job, going to work everyday 8 hours a day for next to nothing and see how they like their collective bargining agreement. The whole thing just makes me sick.
